Pickup truck hits corner of Paragon Family Restaurant; no injuries

JIM RYDBOM/jrydbom@greeleytribune.com
A huge hole remains in the side of the Paragon Family Restaurant after a pickup truck crashed into the restaurant after it was involved in a traffic accident on 28th Avenue and 10th Street. The restaurant was closed on Monday and no injuries were reported. This is the third time this restaurant’s history.

JIM RYDBOM/jrydbom@greeleytribune.com
Members of the Greeley Fire Department work to secure a hole in the Paragon Family Restaurant after a pickup truck crashed into the business around noon on Monday.

RANDY BANGERT/rbangert@greeleytribune.com
The back end of a Ford pickup truck sticks out front of the Paragon Family Restaurant after it backed into the building after being involved in a traffic crash on 10th Street and 28th Avenue at about noon Monday.

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George Gatsiopoulos stood inside his Paragon Family Restaurant in Greeley Monday afternoon, looking at the back end of a Ford pickup that smashed into the building — a scene all too familiar to him.

Gatsiopoulos, who also owns The Country Inn and Key Largo Lounge, said this is the second time in just more than a year someone has driven a pickup into the south side of the Paragon restaurant, where tables sit next to a window. He said the restaurant has been struck a total of three times by a vehicle in its 42 years of operation.

This time, the restaurant was closed and no one was inside when Juan Bejar-Saldama, 80, smashed through the side of the restaurant in reverse.

According to police and witnesses, the man was in the left turn lane on southbound 28th Avenue when a woman’s vehicle slightly struck the rear of his pickup. He accelerated at a high rate, pushing the car in front of him into the intersection. He spun into the westbound lane of 10th Street, wheels smoking, and struck two other vehicles before backing into the restaurant.

No one was injured. Police believe Bejar-Saldama stepped on the gas instead of the brake. He was ticketed for careless driving, police said.

Gatsiopoulos said the last time someone smashed into the building, the damages cost about $20,000. This time, he said, the damage appears to be worse. He said inspectors will have to test the structure before he can open the restaurant again for its normal breakfast and lunch hours.

Gatsiopoulos said he’s just glad no one was injured, especially the elderly driver.